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MBA/MSF

Overview

As a business executive, specializing in financial management can help you stand out as an effective leader. With the increase in global competition, businesses need professionals who can make important decisions based on financial data.

With Suffolk’s MBA/MSF joint-degree program, you’ll be ready to serve as a member of a senior management team, or even advise one.

The program is offered full-time and part-time at our main campus in Boston. The MBA portion of the joint degree can also be completed at North Campus. Many MSF courses are also available online.

Curriculum

Curriculum

Required Introductory Course (1 Credit)

SBS-600 Effective Career Planning

Credits:

1.00

Description:

SBS 600 is the first required course in Suffolk's graduate programs. The course is based on the precepts of experiential learning. Based on the idea that people learn best by participating in meaningful activities, this course provides students with the opportunity to learn about and experience first-hand the many complexities of business and the role of top managers. To accomplish this, SBS 600 is composed of several distinct parts, including the completion of a self-assessment instrument and their own written career development plan. In the campus sections of SBS 600, students will work in small groups as they take on the roles of top managers in a hands-on behavioral simulation. In the online sections, students will conduct a 360 degree evaluation to provide feedback.

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Required

MBA Core Courses* (24 Credits)

*May be waived for credit.

MBA-610 Organizational Behavior

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course explores human behavior and the overall functioning of organizational structures on three levels: the individual, the group, and the organization. Theoretical bases of behavior are used to provide understanding of people's attitudes, motives, and behaviors in group and organizational settings as they relate to leadership, motivation, power, perceptions, group dynamics, communication, diversity, organizational culture, and decision making.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Core

MBA-630 Economic Analysis for Managers

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course develops the basic tools for microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis with emphasis on business decision-making and the impact of economic policy on organizational performance and competitiveness with respect to global business.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Core

MBA-640 Corporate Financial Reporting and Control

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Explores the structure and information content of the three principal financial statements of profit-directed companies, namely the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. Students learn skills in how to use accounting information to analyze the performance and financial condition of a company, facilitate decision-making, planning and budgeting, and performance appraisal in a managerial context. Students with no prior background in accounting complete a programmed instruction in the mechanics of double entry accounting at the start of the course.

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Core

MBA-650 Value Based Financial Management

Prerequisites:

MBA-622; MBA-630; MBA-640 or ACCT-800;

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course introduces the basic principles of corporate finance. The main focus is on fundamental principles such as time value of money, asset valuation, and risk and return tradeoff. Topics to be covered also include cost of capital, capital budgeting, and capital structure.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Core

MBA-660 Marketing: the Challenge of Managing Value

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Marketing is changing - constantly driven by dramatic technology developments, globalization, and evolving consumption values, practices, and lifestyles. This course covers Marketing themes, theories, and trends that are critical for superior business performance in the 21st century. In this course, we will examine current marketing theory as it is being shaped by forward thinking academics and new developments in today's business practices. This course provides students with a strong foundation in marketing principles and practices required in upper level elective courses.

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Core

MBA-670 Information Management for Competitive Advantage

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course focuses on exploiting information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) for a competitive advantage. It explores the impact of IS and IT on the internal and external environments of organizations. It examines decisions needed for effective deployment of IS and IT, such as IT infrastructures selection, valuation of IT business models, and analysis of the operational benefits and risks. The course also introduces students to the opportunities and challenges of managing technology activities to meet the needs of business executives, IT executives, users, and IT partners.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Core

MBA-680 Managing in the Ethical & Legal Environment

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course explores multidisciplinary analytical techniques and case analysis as strategic management tools to assist executives in successful navigation of an increasingly complex, evolving, and highly competitive business environment in which ethical, legal, economic, and regulatory forces are continuously reshaping the global marketplace both to create and limit competitive opportunities.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Core

Global Requirement (3 Credits)

MBA-780 Managing in Global Environment

Prerequisites:

All MBA core courses except MBA 670 and MBA 680 Students seeking special permission to take MBA 780 (concurrent with pre-req, above capacity, etc.) should contact the MBA Programs office at 617-573-8306

Credits:

3.00

Description:

This course introduces the student to the fundamentals of the global business environment and the cross-cultural factors that affect management practice in this environment. Topics covered include: economic environment, free trade and regional integration, foreign direct investment, exchange rate determination and relevant government policies; the decision to go international; the multinational firm and its business functions.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Required

*Prerequisites: all MBA core courses except MBA-670 and MBA-680.

MSF Required Core Courses (21 Credits)

FIN-800 Financial Statement Analysis for Financial Institutions

Prerequisites:

MBA 650

Credits:

3.00

Description:

An in-depth analysis of financial statements, this course is designed to help investors and managers in their assessment of business entity. This course also analyzes financial services industry: bank financial statement analysis with an emphasis on off- balance sheet lending and borrowing, capital structure issues, and innovations in mortgage-backed securities and asset-based financing techniques are covered. Additionally, the tax implications of various derivative securities is studied.

Term:

Type:

FIN-810 Investment Analysis

Prerequisites:

Credits:

Description:

Students examine markets for investment procedures, valuation models, basic analytical techniques, and factors influencing risk/return tradeoffs. This course emphasizes the professional approach to managing investment assets. A variety of investment vehicles are discussed, including stocks, bonds, options, and futures.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA Finance

FIN-812 Capital Budgeting

Prerequisites:

Take FIN-808;

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Students examine techniques and decision-making rules for the evaluation and selection of long-term investment projects by corporations and the interaction of investment and financing.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA Finance

FIN-814 Options and Futures

Prerequisites:

FIN 810

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Students explore the pricing of options and futures contracts, the characteristics of the markets in which these contracts are traded, options and futures strategies, and the application of these contracts in the hedging of financial positions. In addition, students are exposed to swap markets and a variety of swaps.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA Finance

FIN-818 Econometrics

Prerequisites:

Take FIN-810

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Students are introduced to mathematical statistics and basic econometrics. They study fundamental econometric tools as well as hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, linear regressions, simultaneous equations, and models of qualitative choice.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA Finance

FIN-820 Financial Policy

Prerequisites:

Take FIN-808 FIN-810 and FIN-814;

Credits:

3.00

Description:

Students examine financial theories, techniques, and models applied to the study of corporate financial decisions, aspects of corporate strategy, industry structure, and the functioning of capital markets.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA Finance

Elective Courses (24 Credits)

6 MBA electives (1 must be in the international business area)

2 Approved MSF electives

All electives must be 800-level or above from the Sawyer Business School

Required MBA Capstone (3 Credits)

MBA-800 Strategic Management

Prerequisites:

All MBA core courses and MBA 780 Students seeking special permission to take MBA 800 (concurrent with pre-req, above capacity, etc.) should contact the MBA Programs office at 617-573-8306

Credits:

3.00

Description:

In this course, students will develop a multi- functional general management perspective. Students will be required to integrate and apply knowledge and techniques learned in the core courses of the MBA program. Students will also learn about the principal concepts, frameworks, and techniques of strategic management, they will develop the capacity for strategic thinking, and they will examine the organizational and environ- mental contexts in which strategic management unfolds. Students will achieve these course objectives through a variety of learning activities, such as case studies, computer simulations, examinations, project reports, and experiential exercises.

Term:

Offered Both Fall and Spring

Type:

MBA & Global MBA Required

Waiver/Transfer Policy

Waiver Policy

MBA core courses may be waived with credit. Required MBA courses (SBS 600, MBA 780 and MBA 800) cannot be waived.
To waive an MBA core course, a student must successfully complete equivalent academic coursework at the undergraduate/graduate level in the seven years prior to MBA/MSF matriculation (“B”or better).

All waiver requests are evaluated upon a student’s acceptance into the MBA/MSF Program and are waived during the student’s ﬁrst semester. A student receives credit for each course waived, thereby reducing the total number of courses for the MBA/MSF degree. You may also elect to take a proficiency exam to gain a waiver. Proficiency exams must be taken in the ﬁrst semester.

All MBA/MSF students must, however, complete a minimum of 52 credits (17 courses and SBS 600) in the Sawyer Business School.

Transfer Credit Policy

Any candidate seeking transfer credits, taken at the graduate level from an AACSB-accredited graduate program in business, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These credits may be considered for transfer if the credits do not apply to a previously completed degree.

Transfer credits must have an earned grade of "B" or better and be taken within five years prior to entering the Suffolk MBA/MSF program. However, at the discretion of the MSF program director, MSF required core courses may not be transferred if the subject material has changed significantly since completion. A maximum of six credits may be considered for transfer.

Students Who Leave Boston Before Their Degree is Complete

Occasionally, Suffolk MBA/MSF students must leave the Boston area having not yet completed their degree. The Business School has several options available to insure completion of the Suffolk MBA/MSF. You may be able to transfer in six credits of elective courses from an AACSB-accredited MBA or MSA Program close to your new place of residence. Courses must be pre-approved by Suffolk’s assistant dean of graduate programs and have a grade of “B” or better.